Social Cognition in Pediatric Epilepsy

Overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate the development of social cognition skills in pediatric epilepsy compared to healthy children. There are evidences indicating that children with epilepsy have executive dysfunctions and language problems. Executive functions refer to multiple cognitive processes that contribute to human higher order abilities, such as purposeful and future-orientated behavior. Moreover, the literature regarding development of non epileptic children, with ordinary development indicates that executive functions and language are linked to the emergence of social cognition. Then, the investigators asked if children with epilepsy, as they commonly present executive dysfunctions, would show an atypical development of social cognition. Children with epilepsy and a control group of healthy volunteers will be compared to identify relationships between executive functions, language and social cognition.

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder which affects 50 million people all over the world, with a childhood-onset in 75% of cases. This disorder may interfere with the normal cerebral development and impact cognition skills (Bouis, Cavézian et Chokron, 2011 ; Gallagher et Lassonde, 2005). Executive and language functions are often shown to be affected in previous studies with children with epilepsy (Gencpinar et al., 2015 ; Verrotti, Matricardi, Rinaldi, Prezioso et Coppola, 2015). However, executive functioning and language development are known to be implicated in social cognition acquisitions (Carlson et Moses, 2001 ; Smogorzewska, Szumski et Grygiel, 2018). Yet, less is known about social cognition development in people with epilepsy. Social cognition generally refers to mental operations that underlie social interactions, including perceiving, interpreting, managing, and generating responses to socially relevant stimuli, including the intentions and behaviors others. The purpose of this protocol is to compare development of social cognition skills, language and executive functions in children with and without epilepsy. This is an observational study; volunteers who participate will not receive any new or experimental therapies. Children in this protocol will undergo an evaluation which may include: a medical history including characteristics of their epilepsy (age at onset, number of antiepileptic drugs, seizure frequency, …) , a nonverbal intellectual efficiency measure , an evaluation of theory of mind, key concept of social cognition, and executive functions then an evaluation of verbal skills .The second purpose of this protocol is to permit the identification of links between development of social cognition and executive et language functions. Children with epilepsy experience more learning disabilities and behavioral disorders. The treatment of pediatric epilepsy concerns seizure reduction but also reeducation therapy to improve scholar outcome, like speech therapy of psychomotricity. Social consequences may be underestimated in this population, including social cognition.